Body roller

ABSTRACT

A MANUALLY USABLE PORTABLE APPLIANCE UNIQUELY ADAPTED FOR USE BY A QUALIFIED DOCTOR OR A KNOWLEDGEABLE AND TRAINED ASSISTANT AND SUCH IN CONSTRUCTION THAT IT CAN BE EXPERTLY AND EFFICATOUSLY USED TO PROPERLY GOAD, ACT ON AND RELAX SUPER CONTRACTED MUSCLES KNOWN TO BE PROXIMAL TO AND FUNCTONALLY INVOLVED IN THE USE AND CONTROL OF A PATIENT&#39;&#39;S SPINAL COLUMN. IT IS CHARACTERIZED BY A SHAFT HAVING LEFT AND RIGHT AXIALLY TWISTABLE HANDGRIPS. THE MEDIAN PORTION IS EQUIPPED WITH BALANCED FREE TURNING BUT SPRING BIASED APPLICATOR ROLLERS WHICH ARE PAIRED, SPACED, AND SHIFTABLY ADJUSTABLE TOWARD AND FROM EACH OTHER TO ACHIEVE THE RESULTS DESIRED.

NW. 2,, 1971 K. L. GROMALA 3,616,794

BODY ROLLER Filed Aug. 19, 1969 .24 /a a 12 38 m Kenneth L. Groma/aUnited States Patent 3,616,794 BODY ROLLER Kenneth L. Gromala, 817College Ave., Santa Rosa, Calif. 95401 Filed Aug. 19, 1969, Ser. No.851,176

Int. Cl. A61h /00 U.S. Cl. 128-57 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREpatients spinal column. It is characterized by a shaft having left andright axially twistable handgrips. The median portion is equipped withbalanced free turning but spring biased applicator rollers which arepaired, spaced, and shiftably adjustable toward and from each other toachieve the results desired.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements inportable manually usable appliances for therapeutic and corrective useon a prone living body by an experienced person, usually a chiropractor,a physiotherapist, or an equally trained assistant and pertains, moreparticularly, to a handle-equipped shaft having roller-type applicatorsdesigned for specific reciprocatory and controllable movement along thepatients spinal column.

It is a matter of common knowledge that people, especially adults, arediscomforted by and suffer with a backache from time to time. In fact,statistics tend to support the belief that over 50% of our people arehandicapped with painful back troubles categorized, generally stated, aspinched nerves, ruptured disc, tissue diseases and tissue degenerationsuch as usually involve super tonus and spasticity in the deep seatedmuscles proximal to the spinal column. More explicitly, the musclesusually involved in such ailments are multifidus, semi-spinalis dorsi,semispinalis cervicis, longissimus dorsi, longissimus cervicis andcomponents of the sarco-spinalis. These and other muscles can and oftendo become super contracted (super tonus) and painfully sore and tenderand require treatment by doctors and skilled assistants. It follows thatthe primary object of the present invention is to provide an appliance,a body roller for example, which when properly used will help and giverelief to the patient.

Briefly the appliance which has been found to enable the user to copewith and effectually solve the problem comprises a shaft of requisitelength and suitability which has end portions provided with relativelystationary left and right handgrips. These handgrips are contoured to befirmly grasped for manipulative use by the user. The median portion ofthe shaft is provided with rotatably mounted applicator means havingappropriate body contacting surfaces which are designed and adapted tobe rolled in proper relationship to the spinal column in a manner topress upon. and force the treated muscles to relax. At least one end,both ends if desired, of the shaft is provided with a muscle goading tipwhich has a convex endthrust surface which can be aligned with andforcibly pressed upon a selected group of abnormally contracted muscles.Each tip, if two are used, is preferably made of appropriate rubber andis used independently but in conjunction with the rollable applicatormeans.

More specifically, the applicator means is characterized by a pair ofcompanion discs. These discs function as rollers and are rotatablysupported on a bushing carried by 3,616,794 Patented Nov. 2., 1971 theintermediate portion of the shaft. The discs are alike in constructionand opposed hub portions are provided with aligned recesses whichfunction as pockets or sockets and serve to accommodate the end portionsof an appropriately tensioned coil spring. This spring encircles themedian portion of the bushing and allows the yieldable play which isdeemed to be significant for compatible applicator use.

' These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a view showing the patient in a supine position and showingthe doctor or user holding the appliance and using it on the spinalcolumn of the patient.

FIG. 2 is a view in perspective of the appliance by itself.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail view with parts in section and elevationtaken approximately on the plane of the section line 3-3 of FIG. 2looking in the direction of the indicating arrows.

And FIG. 4 is a cross-section with parts broken away taken on thevertical section line 44 of FIG. 3.

Referring now to the views of the drawing and particularly to FIG. 3 theaforementioned shaft is denoted by the numeral 6. The shaft hasscrew-threaded end portions 8 and 10 and a median non-threadedsmooth-surfaced portion 12 which constitutes a journal. Thescrew-threaded end portions are designated as shanks and are such inlength that they serve to accommodate the nylon or equivalent plastichandgrips. The handgrip at the left is denoted by the numeral 14 and theother one at the right by the numeral 16. These handgrips are ofrequisite length and cross-section and are exteriorly contoured forconvenient gripping in the manner suggested in FIG. 1. Each handgrip hasan axial screw-threaded socket 18 into which the screw-threaded shank isscrewed in -a manner to securely mount the handgrip. The respectiveouter end portions 20 of each handgrip are recessed as at 22 toaccommodate a retentively fitted plug 24 on an end thrust compressiblyresilient tip 26. The tip is of suitable cross-section and size and theconvex surface is adapted to be aligned with and forcibly pressed upon aselected group of abnormally contracted muscles in what is believed tobe a substantial- 1y self-evident manner.

The applicator means comprises a pair of duplicate rollers. Each rollercomprises a nylon or an equivalent plastic disc, the one at the leftdenoted by the numeral 28 and the one at the right by the numeral 30(FIG. 3). These discs are of identical construction in diameter and theouter peripheral surface of each disc is provided with an endless grooveor channel 36 to accommodatingly mount a soft rubber body contactingring or tire-like tread 34. The centrally apertured portion 36 of eachdisc provides a bearing and is rotatable on a sleeve-like bushing 38which is operatively fitted on the journal 12. The opposed inner facesof the discs are denoted at 40 and the hub portions are recessed toprovide axially aligned cooperating sockets or pockets 42 to accommodatethe suitably tensioned coil spring 44 which surrounds the bushing andforces the discs or rollers yieldably against the shoulders 46 providedat the inner ends of the handgrips.

By pressing deep and heavy on the selected muscle groups in the mannersuggested in FIG. 1 the user can force them to relax. When this happensthe soreness leaves the spine and relief is achieved.

The unique construction and cooperatively associated relationship of thecomponent parts herein disclosed makes it possible to act on andstimulate the muscle groups which are acted on. The likelihood ofinjuring the spinous processes of the spine during trained use isreduced to an acceptable minimum. Because of the orientation andprecision functioning of the paired rollers it will be clear that thedisclosed appliance is not intended for self-use. The gap between theconfronting faces 40 of the rollers is regulable in keeping withknowledgeable handling by the user and also in keeping with thetherapeutic and corrective treatment in a given situation. Moreprecisely, the rollers 28 and 30 are so interrelated and coacting thatthey are permissibly movable relative to each other by grasping andaxially twisting the handles 14 and 16 in a predetermined manner. Thiscapability is such that the muscle groups involved can be desirablystimulated from 1 to 2 inches on each side from the vertebral spinousprocesses.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A manually usable appliance for use by a doctor or a trainedassistant and expressly constructed and efficaciously adapted to goad,act on, and therapeutically relax predetermined muscles proximal to andfunctionally involved in the use and control of a patients spinal columncomprising a shaft having end portions provided with relativelystationary left and right handgrips and a median portion provided withrotatably mounted applicator means having body contacting surfaces whichare designed and adapted to be rolled alongside said spinal column in amanner to press upon and force the treated muscles to relax, said shaftbeing provided at at least one terminal end with a compressiblyresilient muscle goading tip having a convex end thrust surface adaptedto be aligned with and forcibly pressed upon a selected group ofabnormally contracted (super tonus) muscles.

2. The appliance defined in and according to claim 1, and wherein saidapplicator means comprises a pair of companion discs, said discsproviding rollers and being rotatably supported on a median portion ofthe shaft between coacting inner spaced ends of said handgrips, eachdisc being rigid and marginally surrounded by a pressure responsive ringproviding a muscle forcing and relaxing tire-like tread.

3. The appliance defined in and according to claim 2, and wherein eachdisc is made of nylon and each ring is made of yieldably deformablerubber suitable for imposing heavy pressure on deep muscles identified,for example, as multifidus, semispinalis dorsi, longissimus dorsi, partsof sacro-spinalis and the like.

4. The appliance defined in and according to claim 2, and wherein saiddiscs are alike in construction, and rotatable on a bushing which inturn is rotatable on said shaft, opposed hub portions of said discsbeing axially recessed and providing aligned coordinating sockets, and acoil spring encircling a median portion of said bushing with endportions seated and operatively retained in the respectively cooperablesockets.

5. The appliance defined in and according to claim 1, and wherein theend portions of said shaft are externally screw-threaded, said handgripsbeing made of moldable plastic material and having axial screw-threadedbores which are screwed in place on said end portions.

6. A manually usable appliance for use by a doctor or a trainedassistant and expressly constructed and eflicaciously adapted to goad,act on, and therapeutically relax predetermined muscles proximal to andfunctionally involved in the use and control of a patients spinal columncomprising a shaft having a smooth-surfaced median portion constitutinga journal and screw-threaded end portions each providing a shank, leftand right handgrips each having an axial internally screw-threaded bore,said shanks being screwed into the respectively cooperable bores andmounting said handgrips in their usable positions, the inner ends ofsaid handgrips being spaced apart and providing shoulders, a bushingmounted on said journal with its respective ends abutting therespectively cooperable shoulders, applicator means comprising a pair ofcorresponding companion discs having axially apertured hub portionsproviding bearings and mounted for rotation on said bushing in the spacebetween the inner ends of and abutting said handgrips, said handgripshaving convex end thrust muscle goading tips mounted on their outer endsfor selective use.

7. The appliance defined in and according to claim 6, and wherein eachdisc has an encircling endless groove with a yieldably conformabletire-like tread ring seated and retained therein, said ring adapted torollably im pose manually controllable pressure on predetermined groupsof muscles.

8. The appliance defined in and according to claim 7, and wherein theaxial hub portions of confronting faces of said discs are provided withregistering recesses providing spring receiving and retaining sockets,and a coil spring surrounding a median portion of said bushing andhaving end portions lodged and operatively retained in the respectivelycooperable sockets.

9. A manually usable appliance for use by a doctor or a trainedassistant and expressly constructed and efficaciously adapted to goad,act on, and therapeutically relax predetermined muscles proximal to andfunctionally involved in the use and control of a patients spinal columncomprising a shaft having a smooth-surfaced median portion constitutinga journal and complemental end portions each providing a shank, left andright handgrips each having an axial bore, said shanks beingtelescopically but retentively fitted into the respectively cooperablebores and mounting said handgrips in usable positions on said shanks,the inner of said handgrips being spaced apart and providing shoulders,a bushing mounted on said journal with its respective ends abutting therespectively cooperable shoulders, applicator means comprising a pair ofcorresponding companion discs having axially apertured hub portionsproviding bearings and mounted for rotation on said bushing in the spacebetween the inner ends of and abutting said handgrips, each disc havingan encircling endless groove with a yieldably conformable tire-liketread ring seated and retained therein, said ring adapted to rollablyimpose manually controllable pressure on predetermined groups ofmuscles, the axial hub portions of confronting faces of said discs beingprovided with registering recesses providing spring receiving andretaining sockets, and a coil spring surrounding a median portion ofsaid bushing and having end portions lodged and operatively retained inthe respectively cooperable sockets.

Refereuces Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 472,572 4/1892 Forest 12857896,484 8/1908 Thorns 12857 2,286,324 6/1942 Wentz 12857 LAWRENCE W.TRAPP, Primary Examiner

